Massaging appliance



y 1943- E. H. T. JOMSLAND 2,324,337

' MASSAGING APPLIANCE Filed May 29 1941 INVENTOR.

f'ojflszazzd BY 5M Patented July 13, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MASSAGING APPLIANCE Eli H. Tjomsland, Ridgefield Park, N. 1.

Application May 29, 1941, SerialNo. 395,871

2 Claims.

'My invention relates to massaging appliances,

I placement.

A further object of the invention is to provide a supply container incorporating simple and efilcient means for dispensing its contents.

Another object of the invention is to construct the improved dispenser with a delivery element which is flexible and fits the fingers of the hand which supports the massaging appliance. A further object of the invention is to include means for heating the fluid dispensed from the container where a hot treatment is included in.

the massage.

An important object of the invention is to construct the same along lines of simplicity, in order that it may be produced inexpensively and used with facility.

With the above objects in view, and any others which may suggest themselves from the description to follow, a better understanding of the invention may be had by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which- Fig. 1 is an elevation of the improved appliance;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the lower left-hand portion thereof from the direction of the arrow in Fig. 1; and 1 Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

As in the patented machine, specific reference to the drawing indicates the base of the appliance at 10, the mechanical unit at ll, and the bracket supporting the same over the base at l2.

For the purpose of the present improvement, the base I U is extended forwardly with a defiected receptacle I3 over which the container I 4 of the fluid to be used in the massage is situated.

The container I4 is of a much larger capacity than in the patented machine, and is in the form of a cylindrical can or cup having a reduced head portion l5 formed with a central opening 16. The head portion is formed with a flared rim I1 and a conically-raised medial crown l8 in which is made a central opening I9. The openings l6 and I9 are circular and in registration.

A ball 20 is contained between the crown l8 and the top l5 of the container. Before the latter is applied to the machine it is in upright position, like a paint or similar can, and the ball 20 seats in the opening it to form a closure therefor. However, when the container is inverted as shown for application to the receptacle l3, the ball 20 drops into the opening is of the crown l8 to form a closure against the escape of liquid from the container.

The receptacle I3 is chambered in its top as indicated at 2| to receive the crowned container I 4 as shown in Fig. 3. However, the walls of the receptacle combine spring-ball devices 22 on opposite sides of the crown H, the flared rim ll of the container top co-operating with the spring-ball devices 22 to lock the container in place when fitted into the receptacle as shown. Of course, when the container is to be removed, it need only be drawn forward or sidewise as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1 to uncouple it from the receptacle l3.

When the container is fitted over the receptacle as shown, the crown I8 is situated in spaced relation over the conically-sunken top 24 of the receptacle, and such top continues downwardly in the form of a center tube 25. Part-way down, the tube 25 is'extended with acircular horizontal disc 26 which receives its support on the bottom 21 of the receptacle.

The center tube 25 and the parts formed integrally therewith are of metal; and the tube is intended as a conduit for such fluid as is dispensed from the container. However, the fiuid is led to the massaging zone by way of a rubber tube 28 whose upper end fits over the entrance to the tube 25 and is formed with an outward flange 29 to seat against the receptacle bottom 21. The tube 28 is retained in place by the application of a clamping ring 30 which is secured to the base 21 by driving screws 3| through the same and the disc 26.

Fig. 2 shows that the delivery tube 28 is extended transversely in opposite directions at the bottom to form a pair of receptacles 32 for the fingers 33 between which the delivery tube 28 passes. A better hold and control of the delivery tube is thus had for the application of the fluid dispenser to any point in the massaging zone.

The space around the medial portion of the tube 25 is used for an electrical unit to heat the tube and its contents. Thus, a coil-type electrical heating element 34 is installed in the space referred to and protected by a filling of lava Or other suitable material 35. Current leads 36 are taken from the heating unit through a passage 31 to terminate with a plug connection 38 applicable to the mechanical unit H or any other suitable part of the machine for obtaining the current supply. Dotted lines in Fig. 1 show th pug 38 removed while the heating unit is not in us It will be evident from the above description that the improvement includes features oi radical difference over the patented structure. Thus, ihe container II is not only of larger capacity, but of a special nature to flt the fluid dispenser. Also, it is non-refillable, so as to preclude its use by the operator with a fluid of interior or unsafe character. Ordinarily, the ball 20 serves as a shut-oil for the container, but when the machine is under vibration, the ball will become unseated sufliciently to allow limited amounts of the fluid to pass by it and drop into the tube 25 for passage to the massaging zone. Obviously, the design of the container in reference to the ball closure thereof will be calculated to insure the eflicient operation of the ball. As was mentioned, the delivery tube 28 is now formed both flexibly and for a better control of its position by the fingers of the hand, so that greater facility is had in training the tube to points where the fluid is to be delivered. The heating unit is compactly included in the dispensing zone and intended to facilitate hot oil or other treatments for the massage. Altogether, the improvement is a compact and efllcient unit which is simply designed, easily handled, and of a nature to be inexpensively produced.

While I have described the novel appliance along specific lines, various minor changes and refinements may be made therein without departing from its principle, and I desire to consider all such changes and refinements as coming within the scope and spirit of theappended claims.

I claim:

1. The combination with a massage appliance adapted for support on the operators hand and having an inverted liquid container detachably connected to said appliance; of dispensing means for said container comprising a top for the con- 1 tamer, a crown spacedly surmounting said stop, the latter and the crown having registering perforations, a valve having a limited play between the perforations and seating one or the other according to the inverted or upright position of the container, a downward conduit from the perforated portion of the crown, and a flexible delivery tube extending from the conduit to a position between the fingers of the hand, the delivery tube terminating with receptacles for said fingers.

2. The combination with a massage appliance adapted for support on the operators hand and having an inverted liquid container detachably connected to said appliance; of dispensing means for said container comprising a top for the con-- t ainer, a crown spacedly surmounting said top, the latter and the crown having registering perforations, a valve having a limited play between the perforations and seating one or the other according to the inverted or upright position of the container, a downward conduit from the perorated portion of the crown, and a flexible delivery tube extending from the conduit to a position between the fingers of the hand, the delivery tube terminating with a cross member whose arms are concaved on their upper sides to form receptacles for said fingers.

ELI H. TJOMSLAND. 

